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* CerebusRollercoaster: After Peavey was dealt with, the anime returns momentarily into a lighthearted SliceOfLife... then the next villains are respectively [[TragicVillain Shiraho]] and [[AffablyEvil Alice]].

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* CerebusRollercoaster: After Peavey was dealt with, the anime returns momentarily into a lighthearted SliceOfLife... then the next villains are respectively [[TragicVillain Shiraho]] and [[AffablyEvil Alice]]. The OVA is entirely a fanservice/comedic hijink.
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''Cube×Cursed×Curious'', which can be shortened to ''C Cube'' or ''C[[superscript:3]]'', is a LightNovel series written by Minase Hazuki and illustrated by Sasorigatame, which was published under the Creator/DengekiBunko imprint from 2007 to 2013 for 17 volumes. It has since been adapted into a manga by Akina Tsukako (which was serialized in ''Dengeki Daioh'' from 2011 to 2013) for the Fall 2011 season by SILVER LINK.

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''Cube×Cursed×Curious'', which can be shortened to ''C Cube'' or ''C[[superscript:3]]'', is a LightNovel series written by Minase Hazuki and illustrated by Sasorigatame, which was published under the Creator/DengekiBunko imprint from 2007 to 2013 for 17 volumes. It has since been adapted into a manga by Akina Tsukako (which was serialized in ''Dengeki Daioh'' from 2011 to 2013) for and an anime by Creator/SilverLink which aired in the Fall 2011 season by SILVER LINK.
anime season.

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No longer a trope


* SenpaiKohai: {{Invoked}} by Haruaki as the relationship Fear and Konoha should try to build. It doesn't work.
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* ExpressiveHair: Konoha's hair changes shape with her mood, a la ''{{LightNovel/Bakemonogatari}}''.

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* ExpressiveHair: Konoha's hair changes shape with her mood, a la ''{{LightNovel/Bakemonogatari}}''.''{{Literature/Bakemonogatari}}''.

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* ShanaClone: Fear is one, being a tiny {{Tsundere}} with long hair, an ACupAngst who is a LoveInterest to Haruaki (although her personality points are only on the surface: she's still quite full of herself, but beneath that she's actually just a naive and endearing girl). Interestingly, and possible in an unique case, she also has traits of a ReiAyanamiExpy, being an ArtificialHuman with blue/silver hair and red eyes who explores the world and her own humanity.


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* TinyTyrannicalGirl: Fear is one a tiny {{Tsundere}} with long hair, an ACupAngst who is a LoveInterest to Haruaki (although her personality points are only on the surface: she's still quite full of herself, but beneath that she's actually just a naive and endearing girl). Interestingly, and possible in an unique case, she also has traits of a ReiAyanamiExpy, being an ArtificialHuman with blue/silver hair and red eyes who explores the world and her own humanity.

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Innocent Cohabitation is no longer a trope


* FromRoommatesToRomance: Fear lives in Haruaki's house, Konoha lives in an adjoined home next door.



* InnocentCohabitation: Fear lives in Haruaki's house, Konoha lives in an adjoined home next door.
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%%* BuxomIsBetter: Konoha, much to Fear's [[ACupAngst irritation.]]

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%%* BuxomIsBetter: Konoha, * BuxomBeautyStandard: Konoha has a well-endowed figure, much to Fear's [[ACupAngst irritation.]]
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%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/c3_main.png]]

''Cube×Cursed×Curious'', which can be shortened to ''C Cube'' or ''C[[superscript:3]]'', is a LightNovel series written by Minase Hazuki and illustrated by Sasorigatame, which was published under the Creator/DengekiBunko imprint from 2007 to 2013 for 17 volumes. It has since been adapted into a manga by Akina Tsukako (which was serialized in ''Dengeki Daioh'' from 2011 to 2013) for the Fall 2011 season by SILVER LINK.

Haruaki Yachi is yet another OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, noteworthy only for being highly resistant to curses. Because of this ability, his WalkingTheEarth father frequently sends him cursed tools and items he finds during his travels to be purified, as their home is built on sacred ground that erodes negative energy, and Haruaki is able to safely keep watch over these troublesome items.

One day, he receives a strange metallic cube, which he decides would be better left alone. That night, he wakes up to find a [[NakedFirstImpression naked]] girl eating rice crackers in his house. The girl's name is [[MeaningfulName Fear]], and she is, in fact, the cube itself, an ArtifactOfDoom that brings painful death to her bearer and all those close to him. Having gained a human form and human emotions, she wishes to be freed from her curse. Haruaki agrees to help her, and she begins living with him and Konoha, another sentient cursed artifact, but none of them realize the true extent of the problems Fear's curse presents, both directly and indirectly.

If you're going to check out this anime, keep in mind that it has a ''highly'' NonIndicativeFirstEpisode, and thus you won't get a good impression of what the show's about until the plot picks up in the second half of Episode 2. Try to watch it at least up to that point before deciding whether or not this is a show for you. But, unfortunately, since 2013, it still only has one season.

Not related to [[Anime/CControl another anime shortened to [C].]]
----
!!Provides examples of:

* ACupAngst: Fear's two biggest problems with Konoha, whom she declares to be "the enemy of the flat-chested".
%%* ActionGirl: Konoha and Fear.
* AdaptationDyeJob: According to the light novels, Fear's hair is supposed to be silver. Although the cover of the first light novel [[HairColorDissonance certainly looks like she has blue hair]].
* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Pakuaki Yamimagari. He's generally polite, friendly, and extremely talkative with anyone. No matter how much his younger sister, Kirika, constantly shows her utter disgust of him when he's around, he brushes off with a "your words wound me" while still smiling, and continues offering discussion. He never seems to get angry, and is well composed all of the time. A peculiar, but polite gentleman. However that won't stop him from starting a game where if the heroes fail, a bomb blows up somewhere in the school (or rather he just makes them think that), [[MagnificentBastard make everyone dance in the palm of his hands]], and go [[CrazyPrepared through great amount of roundabout and preparations]] in order to [[ForScience learn more about the "unknown"]]. His motive for doing these acts isn't wrong, but the means by which he does them.]]
* AfraidOfBlood: Konoha. This is because [[spoiler:she's fighting her nature as a sword cursed with bloodthirst. In volume 10, it's revealed this is due to self-hypnotism she placed on herself, as a measure to suppress her bloodthirsty nature, because her curse hasn't lessened at all.]]
* AntiMagic: Haruaki is a mild version, being resistant to curses.
%%* ArtifactOfDoom: Cursed tools in general
* ArtShift: When we see a flashback of Peavey's life, well, let's just say it wouldn't look out of place in a [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica witch's barrier.]]
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler:Once all indulgence disks are inside Fear, her curse will be lifted. Why is this listed under this trope then? It goes backs to Fear's origins. She was created by melting the metal of other cursed tools. She lives off the power of curses. Once the last indulgence disk is installed, what acts as her heart will stop, and she'll cease to do any activity. Yes, in order to lift her curse, she has to lose her sentience and human form, and become a mere object. As if [[CosmicPlaything Fear]] hasn't suffered enough.]]
* AxCrazy: Peavey has.... issues, to say the least. The woman needs a whole lot of serious therapy.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler: Mummy Maker made a reappearance and was shown alive in Volume 10 of light novel. Himura actually saved her from fatal condition. Although in the first volume she was shown drowning in her own blood as well as Peavey's announcement of her death to the gang, it turns out that Himura was hiding in the same building where Mummy Maker was supposed to be killed using a stealth-function curse tool. After Peavey soaked Dance Time (the cursed axe) to activate the curse, she left the building. After that, Himura uses that opportunity to rescue Mummy Maker. Peavey didn't confirm Mummy Maker's death, that's why when she confronted the main characters, she said that Mummy Maker is already dead.]]
* BadassAdorable: Konoha and Fear, although for the latter the "adorable" part is [[CuteAndPsycho questionable, to say the least]].
* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler:Aiko and Kokoro]]
* BadPowersGoodPeople: Neither Fear nor Konoha want to hurt anyone, they just want to live out their lives peacefully, but the nature of their powers makes that rather difficult.
* BatmanGambit: Fear pulls off a pretty good one in episode 8. [[spoiler:Shiraho doesn't want Sovereignty's curse to be broken because she doesn't want to know if her feelings for Sovereignty are fake or not. However, if things keep going the way they are, either Sovereignty will kill Shiraho, or they'll be unable to be together, forever. So she works out a plan to get rid of the blades hidden in Sovereignty's body, PLUS cracking Shiraho's defenses.]] Not bad for a self-proclaimed idiot.
** The plan was based around understanding how people react to torture or watching their loved ones get tortured. If there's one field that Fear would be an expert in, it's that.
%%* BattleAura
* BerserkButton: [[spoiler:Don't harm Haruaki, unless you want to incur the wrath of a cube full of torture instruments, and a demon blade. Elsie Hinai learned this the hard way.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Final volume. Haruaki, Fear, Konoha, Kotetsu, Kirika, and Kuroe are facing crisis dealing with a powerful wathe known as Wittelsback Knights. On the verge of defeat, many people they encountered, friends and former enemies, appear and take to battle on their side. They include Aiko, Pakuaki Yamimagari and the Lab Chief's nation, and '''Kokoro'''. Also, comrades who were at the school, but elsewhere at the time also come to help, such as Un Izoey and Sovereignty. [[HeroicSecondWind The six get a desperately needed morale boost]] [[ThePowerOfFriendship and reinforcements]].]]
* BigWhat: [[spoiler:Maximilian Pendragon, the Draconian Commander wants to make Kuroe his after witnessing her abilities, and he is constantly after her since declaring that. However, after talking with her in one encounter, he ponders over what he truly wants. Next encounter, Fear and co. are fighting Satsuko and Fourteen, and are losing. Fourteen fires giant pillar, and everyone has little to no space to dodge it. They're saved by Maximilian, who then walks over to Kuroe. Everyone is of course wary, wanting to protect Kuroe. However, this time he kneels, pulls out a rose, and declares his love for her. Naturally, everyone else besides Kuroe freaks out.]]
* BizarreAlienBiology: {{Inverted}}: Fear as a cube doesn't look remotely human, but certain parts of her cube form directly correspond to certain parts of her human form.
* BloodKnight: [[spoiler:Anyone from the Draconions fits this, as they are a bunch of fanatics using cursed tools for the purpose of becoming stronger, but Kokoro in particular stands out.]]
* BlushSticker: [[spoiler:Kuroe seems to have a permanent version.]]
* BookEnds: [[spoiler:The story begins and ends with Haruaki seeing Fear naked, covering her chest with her arms while holding rice crackers in both hands, and shouting out her CatchPhrase.]]
%%* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Episodes 2 and 3. So very much.]]
* BunnyEarsLawyer: The principal, who wears a gas mask and has a very occult-looking office.
%%* BuxomIsBetter: Konoha, much to Fear's [[ACupAngst irritation.]]
* CallingTheOldManOut: [[spoiler:Fear gives an epic one to her 'father', Trinac Agana, that inside her is not just tools of torture and execution, but good things as well she accumulated throughout her stay in the Yachi home. Read for youself:]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Fear''': "Inside me—Yes, for example... I know how to solve a Rubik's cube. Did you design that? There's lots more. Such as feelings of liking rice crackers, feelings of liking furry animal, or content from the lessons in school that are stored in my mind. I've gained so much knowledge. I can also perform the dance I learned for the sports festival. Learning part-time jobs was also a piece of cake, like being a waitress or a salesperson. Also—oh right, knowing how to make chocolate. I can make very~ tasty chocolate, you know? Of course, including everyone in school, everyone in the shopping street, everyone in town... Along with Haruaki... Haruaki and the others, my feelings of love for them all. Haha, so let me ask again. Did you design these feelings for me by using that prided mouth of yours? The matter-of-fact error, me, that you created in the beginning... has already been diluted by other things. Because I am shaped like a box, of course there will be many things stuffed inside, even to the point that the original contents no longer matter. Every space that used to remain empty all the time in the past has been filled up, even overflowing. Even if my birth is an error, the fact of my being here, coming here, and meeting everyone—all these things are absolutely not errors. This is the only point I can be certain of! You have no right to deny all this!]]
* CatchPhrase
** Fear's "I'll curse you!"
** Kirika has "Absolutely Ridiculous!"
** Peavey's "[[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch Bitch!]]"
** [[spoiler: Kukuri's "Freaking incompetent"]]
** [[spoiler: Kokoro's "I don't want to sweat the small stuff".]]
** [[spoiler: Isuzu's "Please allow me to say in fear and trepidation..."]]
* CaughtWithYourPantsDown: At the end of the OVA the gang catches Shiraho wiggling on top of Sovereignty's sleeping bag and breathing in her scent. Shiraho doesn't take it well.]]
* CerebusRollercoaster: After Peavey was dealt with, the anime returns momentarily into a lighthearted SliceOfLife... then the next villains are respectively [[TragicVillain Shiraho]] and [[AffablyEvil Alice]].
* CerebusSyndrome[=/=]MoodWhiplash: The anime coaxes you into believing that this show is a normal lighthearted SliceOfLife series with fantasy elements. This lasts until about halfway through episode 2, when [[KnightOfCerebus Peavey]] shows up.
%%* ChasteHero: Fear.
%%* ChildhoodFriendRomance: Konoha has known Haruaki since they were young.
%%* ClassRepresentative: Kirika.
* ClingyJealousGirl: Konoha does not take well to seeing Fear [[NotWhatItLooksLike on top of Haruaki]].
* ClusterFBomb[=/=]RefugeInAudacity: After Peavy's weapon is destroyed she goes crazy letting out bitch.
%%* ColorFailure: Konoha and Fear each get one in episode 2.
%%* CombatSadomasochist: Peavey.
* CoolSword:
** Konoha's [[spoiler: alternate form]]. It's [[MeaningfulName her name]].
** [[spoiler:Kotetsu]]
** [[spoiler:Dainsleif]]
%%* CuteAndPsycho: Fear, although in her case it borders on SuperpoweredEvilSide.
%%* CuteClumsyGirl: Shiraho [[spoiler: who is really Sovereignty]].
%%* CuteLittleFang: Fear.
* CutenessProximity
** The entire class, Kana especially.
** The Principals assistant, [[TheStoic Zenon]], has a weakness for cute things.
%%* DancingTheme[=/=]CreditsRunningSequence: Elements of both, in a single opening.
%%* DarkActionGirl: Peavey.
%%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Fear.
* DarkSecret:[[spoiler:You know how in the beginning Konoha said her curse was almost lifted? That's a lie. In volume 10, it's revealed her curse is nowhere near being lifted. In fact, it hasn't lessened at all. She merely put herself under self-hypnosis to fear blood to suppress her blood-thirst as a sword.]]
%%* DeadpanSnarker: Haruaki.
%%* DefrostingIceQueen: [[spoiler: Shiraho after Fear cracks her shell wide open in episode 8.]]
* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Creator/YukariTamura (Fear) sings the first opening, "Endless Story", and the second ending, "Sympathy of Love", while Creator/EriKitamura (Kirika) sings the first ending, "Hana" ("Flower"), and the second opening, "Shirushi" ("Sign").
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything
%%** TheStinger in Episode 5.
** [[spoiler: Sovereignty covered in white sticky stuff in episode 8.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: Fear [[spoiler:. TWICE. The first is after [[SuperPoweredEvilSide she lost control of herself]] during the first encounter with Peavey, and planned to drown herself in the ocean. The second comes after Konoha reawakens as Murasama and taken by Nurashaaki, driving Harauki into a HeroicBSOD. Then, in his single-minded desire to get back Konoha, he's working with someone from the Knight's Dominion, training to inflict Nurashaaki with a poisoned blade cursed tool (from what they're told) that could lead to him killing her. Everyone else just seems to accept this, but Fear has misgivings about the whole partnership, risking Harauki's life and his purity. Dealing with all the mental turmoil proved too much to bear that she confronts Nurashaaki, along with Konoha and another cursed sword Kotetsu, bears a CurbStompBattle, and has resigned with Konoha taking her life. She would have died if not for Kuroe's BigDamnHeroes.]]
%%* ElegantGothicLolita
%%** Peavey. But she's [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch far from elegant]].
%%** Sovereignty, [[spoiler: or rather, the real Shiraho.]]
%%* EpicFail: Fear's attempt at cleaning or putting up a tent.
* EpicFlail: Due to all of Fear's weapons being connected to her via a VariableLengthChain, she can turn them into these.
%%* EquippableAlly
* ExpressiveHair: Konoha's hair changes shape with her mood, a la ''{{LightNovel/Bakemonogatari}}''.
* EyeScream: Peavey gets hit with a rather large shard from her broken weapon smack dab in the eye. Ouch.
%%* {{Fanservice}}
* FantasticRacism: Peavey and her colleagues believe that cursed items like Fear and Konoha don't have a right to exist.
** [[spoiler:FreudianExcuse: It's hinted and then confirmed that Peavey had a brutal experience with a cursed tool in the past. Having your father go crazy and attack both you and your mother would explain her extreme hatred.]]
** Just notice the word '''''cursed''''' in cursed tools. It's not like they're a different species, but tools that gained human qualities after absorbing a great amount of negative feelings. Owners(other than Haruaki) have to satisfy the curse of a specific tool that ranges from hurting yourself or others, can't take it off ever again, becoming a part of your body, etc. The effects vary but all remain negative influences, a curse. The main reason tools like Fear and [[spoiler:Aiko]] angst so much is because their original owners used them for horrible things, got cursed by their victims, and unfortunately gained human sentience to now feel turmoil over what they were used to do. It's only because we follow Fear and other cursed tools with a conscious, and Haruaki, who's immune to the negative affects of curses, that it comes off as FantasticRacism. If this went in another direction, Peavey and the Knights Dominion would easily be the heroes of this story.
%%* FingerSuckHealing: Fear does this to Haruaki in Episode 4.
* GenderBender:
** [[spoiler:Sovereignty has two different forms.]]
** [[spoiler:Later, Honatsu Yachi, Haruaki's father]]
%%* GirlWithPsychoWeapon: Fear, Peavey, [[spoiler:and Kirika's weapon is literally psycho]].
%%* GirlishPigtails: Konoha.
%%* GodivaHair: Fear during her NakedFirstImpression. Peavey later on.
* GoryDiscretionShot: [[spoiler: Peavey slices Kirika open in episode 5. The audience just sees a dark sceen the splits in the middle to reveal Peavey. ]] [[spoiler: Fortunately, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Kirika got better]].]]
* GratuitousEnglish
** [[MeaningfulName "Curse Calling"]]
** Also, the entire incantation read by Sovereinty [[spoiler: the real Shiraho]] in order to animate the other dolls in the room in episode 6.
* GreenEyedMonster:
** Konoha. She puts on a good facade most of the time, but once she thinks that Harauki is in danger if being "taken" from her, it easily comes off to show how possessive she really is.
** Shiraho is even worse in that she will drag Sovereignty away from having fun or even talking to her/his friends, because of her selfishness.
* HopeSpot:[[spoiler:After cooperation with all their friends, being steadfast, a lot luck and coincidence, Harauki, Fear, Konoha, Kotetsu, Kirika, and Kuroe finally reach the Dominion Lord and the spear, that threatens to overwrite the purification grounds of the Yachi house with a land that rejects curses, is right in view. Only Dansleif and the Dominion Lord, who is elderly and in a wheelchair, are in front. Sounds easy, right? Wrong, the Dominion Lord has an incredible powerful Wathe known as Wittelsbach Knights, 16 sets of cursed armor that obey him. They overwhelm the small group of six. Because the suits of armor are knights under the Dominion as well, they also receive the blessings of the land currently under "Dominionization", making them extremely durable. Even Konoha can't cut through them.]]
* HumanityEnsues: An unusual variant, in that these are inanimate objects gaining human form. Haruaki claims that such cases are not unheard of.
* HyperspaceArsenal:
** Fear's 32 torture instruments. She's shown at least two {{BFS}} so far. Though they aren't really all THAT big, they're still around her height. [[spoiler:This later becomes a plot point as Pakuaki discusses with Fear that her transformation mechanism shouldn't be able to operate under normal science and physics. The reason it's possible? She was made using other cursed tools as material.]]
** [[spoiler:Fourteen, who is a cursed house, can summon anything a part of her body, such as bricks, dishes, and giant pillars as projectiles and brooms as weapons. These objects also increase in durability once released.]]
* {{Hypocrite}}:[[spoiler:After Fear went out of control during the first fight with Peavey, Konoha goes as far to take Fear outside at night behind Haruaki's back and give her a BreakingSpeech about how dangerous she is. Konoha did this out of concern for Haruaki's safety, despite her methods. However, after volume 10, it's revealed she's been lying about how her curse was almost lifted, and that her fear of blood is only self-hypnotism to keep her bloodthirsty curse in check. After Elsie [[BerserkButton injured Haruaki]], she willingly broke that mental restraint to combat her. This has lasting consequences though as it took years for the hypnotic suggestion to be powerful as it was, but now that it's broken, the bloodlust of her curse that's been held back reacts more strongly, and threatens to consume her. Konoha herself recognizes as she is now, she's just as dangerous as Fear was in the beginning, but she [[DarkSecret keeps quiet]], and continues to participate in fights while knowing it will draw out her bloodthirst, and threaten Haruaki's safety should it take over.]]
%%* IAmNotAGun: Part of the reason why Konoha and Fear want to have their curses lifted.
* IdiotBall:
** [[spoiler:In volume 12, Pakauki Yamimagari appears again during the School excursion to Nara and Kyoto at the Toei Studio. The group naturally goes on guard, but it turns out the reason he's there is because Un Izoey forgot something, and he took the errand on himself to give it to her. Naturally, they don't believe him, even though it turns out to be true. He later departs, but later, they run into him again, and are still suspicious of him of him being up to something, to the point of what could be considered for them holding him at gunpoint, until he leaves again. Now, they encounter him again late at night when meeting up with Alice Bivario and Kukuri, to meet with a supplier who has an indulgence disk. After they get into a scuffle with another katana cursed tool, the indulgence disk being fought over ends up in his hands. He precedes to use it to start another game in which the winner gets the box he "seemingly" put the indulgence disk into. At this, they believe him readily, not questioning if he actually put it in there. When they do manage to open the box, they are actually shocked to not find it in there. After showing such distrust in him before, they believed him, when it actually mattered to be distrustful!]]
** [[spoiler: Sure, Haruaki. It was okay for you to trust the former Knight's Dominion Lilyhowell, because your goals align. It's not like you didn't see how she became a total CombatPragmatist, willing to use everyone and everything to to achieve her goal, with her sending those group of thugs to be slaughtered or purposefully terrifying a young couple to power one of her cursed tool. Also, you didn't bother to double check the history of the cursed tool she plans for you use in the next plan, but believe her at her word. Unaware, her real plan required for you to die at the hands of Nurashaaki. Good thing you're the MC, and have plot armor.]]
** [[spoiler:The important spear that's use is unknown but hyped to be very dangerous, manages to get separated from the villain after being blown away by one attack, and falls down a cliff. Satsuko and Fourteen go down first to find it. However, the protagonists can't let anyone else get their hands on it so they go down to search too. Also, the Lad Chief's nation also go down to look. However, surprise, surprise no one can apparently find it. To wrap up the search they conclude it drifted deep and far in the ocean. Naturally, you don't suspect the pair who went to look first, especially when one is a cursed house [[HyperSpaceArsenal that can hide away things in herself]], and are just lying about not finding it. No, you hope for the best. In Kururi's words: "freaking incompetent"!]]
* IdiotHair:
** Konoha. Her actual level of academic prowess has yet to be seen.
** Shiraho [[spoiler: Sovereignty]] has an even bigger piece of IdiotHair. It's so big, it loops.
%%* {{Immortality}}: [[spoiler:Kirika's body armor grants her this.]]
%%* ImmortalImmaturity
* InformedAbility:
** Haruaki's supposed "immunity" to curses has yet to be seen in action.
** {{Subverted}} as of episode 7.
* InnocentCohabitation: Fear lives in Haruaki's house, Konoha lives in an adjoined home next door.
* InstantFanClub: The entire class must have a CutenessProximity, to fawn over Fear like that.
%%* TheKlutz: Shiraho, [[spoiler: who is actually the real Sovereignty.]]
* KnightOfCerebus: Peavey shows up halfway through Episode 2 and completely uproots every expectation the first episode and a half set up.
* KickTheDog:
** Konoha does this towards Fear after the first encounter with Peavey, and Harauki stopping her from committing suicide. You could argue that she did it to make sure Fear would stay away from battles, but the way she did was cruel and pointless. Before this, Haruaki was having Fear start out helping with little tasks to slowly raise her self-esteem, but that little bit of self-esteem is tossed into the mud, once Konoha delivers her BreakingSpeech that she is too dangerous, and risks Harauki's life just by being near him. Konoha also never offers any help or alternatives. No, she just puts Fear down, while saying, [[GreenEyedMonster she'll be the one to protect Haruaki]]. All she tells Fear is basically "don't cause trouble".
** [[spoiler:This happens again between the same characters in volume 16. Previous volume, Fear relied on her SuperPoweredEvilSide to face the Draconian Commander, who [[CurbStompBattle was dominating them]] and was about to kill Harauki. She manages to repel him, but also injures Haruaki while in that state. Konoha of course having a deep attachment to Harauki, hates Fear for this. Despite the fact, if she did nothing, Haruaki would have died instead of losing a few fingers, and Kuroe would have been taken away. After learning the situation at the school, Haruaki and the others prepare to set out, but Konoha says she needs to so something first. Then, she kicks Fear very hard onto the veranda. At this time, Fear is suffering from a HeroicBSOD from hurting Haruaki and has repressed herself in cube form. Not that it makes any difference, because as situations when Harauki was inserting Indulgence disk show, she still retains a sense of touch, so that kick must have hurt. However Konoha doesn't stop there and continues kicking Fear until she talks. Then, she precedes to tell her that she won't allow Fear to come with them, and states in no unclear terms that she would have killed Fear if Harauki died because of her. Konoha precedes to berate and mock Fear with verbal and physical abuse (she still keeps kicking Fear while she talks), saying she hasn't made any progress at all since Peavey. Konoha knows full well what a {{Hypocrite}} she's being because of the Nurashaaki incident. What makes it worse is that no one is stopping her. Harauki tries pathetically once, but immediately shuts up when Fear stops him by saying "it's okay". If those knights had not shown up when they did, Konoha may have locked Fear in the storeroom or buried her in the garden. It shows Konoha still views Fear the same way since the beginning "a nuisance".]]
%%* LittleMissBadass: Fear.
* LoveMakesYouEvil:[[spoiler:Himura, and how! So much he planned the entire volume 10's events, just so Kirika would love him. When the plan failed, he ordered Elsie, who follows his orders due to being BrainwashedAndCrazy, to kill Haruaki to send Kirika into shock in order to make her susceptible to the brainwashing cursed tool the Knight's Dominion used on Elsie and Himura intercepted, to force Kirika to fall in love with him.]]
* LoveTriangle: Right off the bat, there's a blatant setup for a Konoha/Haruaki/Fear triangle.
** Add Kirika and it's a full blown harem.
%%* LovesTheSoundOfScreaming: Fear, when she goes out of control.
%%* MadnessMantra: Peavey goes through these quite often.
* MaskOfPower: The principal wears a gas mask.[[spoiler:In volume 8, it's revealed he uses the mask to hide the "Dragon's eye" tattoo on his face.]]
* MesACrowd: The cursed tool Suicidal Beautification Reflector can do this for it's owner.
** [[spoiler:Also, Isusu, who has 14 other selves that can exist simultaneously]]
* MayflyDecemberRomance: Maybe. Konoha indicates that cursed items don't grow or age, but whether that remains the case when they're completely cured hasn't been confirmed. [[spoiler:If Kuroe's any indication, they don't.]]
* McGuffin: [[spoiler: The Indulgence Disks, items that weaken Fear's powers, and thus weaken her curse.]]
* MeaningfulName:
** Konoha [[spoiler: [[UsefulNotes/{{Muramasa}} MURAMASA]]]]
** [[spoiler: Also Sovereignty. She's a doll with sovereignty over other dolls.]]
** [[spoiler: [=KUROe NINGYOhara=]. Kuro means black, Ningyo means doll. She's a black-haired doll. It also helps that she named herself. It looks more of a very dark green in the anime, however.]]
** Fear [[Creator/StanleyKubrick Kubrick]]; if you've ever seen one of that director's movies, (for example ''Film/FullMetalJacket'') then you know it was done entirely on purpose.
** [[spoiler:Isuzu. "Suzu" meaning bell and" "I" meaning five. However, her name doesn't mean five bells, rather she's bell #5 out of '''''fifteen''''']]
* {{Meido}}: [[spoiler: Sovereignty is forced to dress like one after the events in episode 8]]
* MissingMom: Haruaki's mother is never mentioned. [[spoiler:Until volume 9 in the LN, where it's revealed she divorced from Haruaki's father before Haruaki gained self-awareness.]]
* MoodWhiplash: The easiest way to see this coming is the [[Creator/YukariTamura shift in Fear's voice.]]
* MultipleChoicePast: The principal has told everyone a different reason for why he wears his gas mask. Some of these many reasons include for religious reasons, because he has a scar on his face, and because of a respiratory problem breathing in the air without it.
* NakedFirstImpression: {{Justified|Trope}}. Fear's a cube, and cubes don't wear clothes.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: "My name is Fear [[Creator/StanleyKubrick Kubrick]]. I am [[LampshadeHanging in no way related to the movie director]]."
** PunnyName: The Japanese pronunciation makes it sound like "Cube-brick". She is a cube. Her name also sounds like Rubik, and she carries/is a cube. Rubik's Cube.
%%* NiceGuy: Haruaki
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler: After the Bivirio family retreats after Alice loses her cursed tools and Fear inflicted serious injury, Kirika lies that Fear is part of the Lab Chief's Nation like her, and if they continue to go after her, they will be going to war with the entire organization. A bluff meant to deter the enemy from action. However, Kirika underestimated how abnormal these people were. They not only take the bluff seriously, but willingly go on the attack by sending suicide bombers to attack the Lab Nation's branches. Also, once they got their hands on Aiko, a cursed pot whose ability can exponentially increase their numbers by utilizing her curse (killing living creatures, turn their corpses into mercury drones, and stored until needed), they decide to make full use of her to build up their strength. The target: the school.]]
* TheNicknamer: Kuroe pretty much calls every characters in the series with nicknames, and Fear, to some extent.
** Haruaki: Haru(ハル) by Kuroe. Harenchi Kozou(ハレンチ小僧) by Fear
** Fear: Ficchi(ふぃっちー)
** Konoha: Kono-san(このさん) by Kuroe. Cow-tits(ウシチチ) by Fear.
** Kirika: Kiririn(きりりん)
** Sovereignty: Save-chan (Sovereignty's name is pronounced as Saverenti in this series; サヴェちゃん)
** [[spoiler: Setsuko: Secchi]] (Volume 6+)
** [[spoiler: [[http://img.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ybi/1/dd/30/abatoparasukeru/folder/1597407/img_1597407_49737989_2?1258637525 Izoei]]: Countryside Girl(イナカ女)]] by Fear (Volume 8+)
** [[spoiler:Shameless Girl Number One and Two: Chihaya and Isuzu respectively]] by Fear. (Volume 9+)
** [[spoiler: Kaidou Imi: Scottie (Yes, a pun of that tissue brand. Haruaki even mentioned it to his tsukkomi). Why Kuroe called her Scottie is because Kaidou always carry a shovel around and she is a teacher. Take the first two kanas of Scoop/Shovel (スコップ) + Teacher (ティーチャー) = Scottie (スコッティ)]] (Volume 6+)
* NighInvulnerable: [[spoiler:Kirika is the HealingFactor type due to a cursed tool.]]
%%* NoRomanticResolution
* NonIndicativeFirstEpisode: Episode 1 made this look like a pretty lighthearted show. Cue Episode 2.
* NotWhatItLooksLike:
** Of course, Konoha would walk in a second after Fear falls over and lands on Haruaki.
** The end of episode 3 takes this up to eleven.
** The end of episode 5 manages SerialEscalation.
%%* OfCorsetsSexy: Peavey
%%* OnlySaneMan: Haruaki
%%* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Haruaki, mostly.
%%* PatientChildhoodLoveInterest: Konoha
* PetTheDog: Peavey tells her backup to take off the bandages she's wearing (since Peavey hates cursed tools), and the girl is reluctant, saying that she feels her body is ugly, but does so. Peavey tells her that she's nothing of the sort, and that cursed tools are for more ugly then she'd ever be.
** [[spoiler:KickTheDog: Then Peavey kills her because Amanda set up a plan that wasn't bloody enough for her.]]
** [[spoiler:There's more to it than that, when under a favor from Kirika, Himura set up discord by taking the piece of paper Mummy Maker gave Haruaki, and placing it back in Peavey's hotel room with added false information, such as asking the Dominion for back-up, that Mummy Maker did think of, but decided not to do. Overall, it was a case of GoneHorriblyRight.]]
* PhenotypeStereotype: Averted. Peavey is indeed blond, but her eyes are green rather than the stereotypical blue.
* PleasePutSomeClothesOn: Haruaki's reaction to his NakedFirstImpression of Fear.
%%* PowerFist: Peavey wears these, which cover her entire arms.
* PowerIncontinence: The only thing preventing [[HumanityEnsues living]] [[ArtifactOfDoom artifacts]] from living peacefully.
* PrehensileHair: [[spoiler:As a cursed Japanese doll, Kuroe can grow and control her hair.]]
* RealMenWearPink: Haruaki's hobbies and skills are mostly domestic in nature.
* Really700YearsOld: Cursed artifacts are ageless.
* RedEyesTakeWarning:
** Fear is both a straight example and a {{subversion}}. No doubt she's cute, but episode 3, HOLY CRAP!
** Also Kirika and Shiraho [[spoiler:aka female Sovereignty]]
* RefugeInAudacity: Peavey. None of her lines were censored, so when she goes [[ClusterFBomb Cluster Bitch-Bomb]], a potential censor in an English dub would have lasted for ''two minutes straight'' [[LogicalExtreme on a specific time]], and about five minutes for a combined total.
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: Fear has given one to plenty of her opponents:[[spoiler:Alice and Abyss, Kokoro, and Himura.]]
* ReiAyanamiExpy: Mummy Maker/Amanda bears some of these traits, as well as, oddly enough, Fear herself.
%%* ScaryShinyGlasses: Konoha, sometimes.
* SenpaiKohai: {{Invoked}} by Haruaki as the relationship Fear and Konoha should try to build. It doesn't work.
* SequelHook: Episode twelve is a very blatant sequel hook.
* SeriousBusiness: To Kirika, ''lunch'' is serious business.
* ShanaClone: Fear is one, being a tiny {{Tsundere}} with long hair, an ACupAngst who is a LoveInterest to Haruaki (although her personality points are only on the surface: she's still quite full of herself, but beneath that she's actually just a naive and endearing girl). Interestingly, and possible in an unique case, she also has traits of a ReiAyanamiExpy, being an ArtificialHuman with blue/silver hair and red eyes who explores the world and her own humanity.
* ShoutOut:
** Episode 8 features a familiar ArtShift when Fear runs her BatmanGambit, almost as if she is [[VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry channeling Furude]] [[Creator/YukariTamura Rika.]]
** Kuroe once teases how she may be like [[Anime/DragonBallZ a certain warrior race that comes back stronger after being on the brink of death]], while noting her powers have gotten stronger, after recovering from exhausting them.
** [[spoiler:Fear does a [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Giga Drill Break]] on the Dominion Lord and Dansleif.]]
** Peavey has a quote from the Marquis when first we meet her. This tells loads about her personality.
* SlasherSmile:
** [[spoiler: [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_utw_c3_cube_x_cursed_x_curious_-_02_xvid_9558.jpg HO]][[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_utw_c3_cube_x_cursed_x_curious_-_02__4106.jpg LY...!]] The end of episode two has a complete outbreak of these. Fear's is particularly scary.]]
** The [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vlcsnap-2011-10-19-16h47m10s13_1484.png trend]] continues into episode three. Complete with [[PutTheLaughterInSlaughter sinister]] [[LaughingMad laugh]]
** Shows up again in Episode 8, [[spoiler: except it's all part of Fear's BatmanGambit to give Shiraho and Sovereignty a happy ending.]]
* SelectiveObliviousness: Haruaki. It's not that he doesn't see the girls' displays of affection toward him. He just doesn't believe they could mean it in "that" way. [[spoiler:This becomes a problem in volume 15, where Kirika suffers a HeroicBSOD, because of him continuing to not respond to her confession, and overhearing him [[StatusQuoIsGod offhandedly say he prefers things to remain as they are]]. She would have avoided a lot of suffering in that volume]], if Harauki was more considerate of her feelings.
* SliceOfLife: Starts off along these lines, [[spoiler:but this is a trick the writers are playing on the viewers, see CerebusSyndrome]].
* StatusQuoIsGod:[[spoiler:Lampshaded by Haruaki offhandedly in Volume 15, but Kirika overhears it. While in a HeroicBSOD, she accepts an offer with her brother ([[OutOfCharacterIsSeriousBusiness something she wouldn't usually do)]], and gets captured by Dainsleif, prompting the others to rescue her when they hear about it, and Haruaki going through a ItsAllMyFault. It seems the trope will be subverted when the group rescue her, because he finally responds to her confession back in Volume 12 that he may love her back, and to move into his house, but still, nothing further comes from it afterwards besides the move itself. By the end of the series, there's NoRomanticResolution, playing the trope straight in the end.]]
%%* SugarAndIcePersonality: [[spoiler: Shiraho after she defrosts. Even then, she's only sweet when talking to Sovereignty]]
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: When Haruaki thought [[spoiler:he was going to see Konoha as a naked human in eps 6, but then didn't get to]].
%%* TakingTheBullet / ImmortalLifeIsCheap: Episode 7
%%* TalkingWeapon: [[spoiler: Konoha's true form.]]
%%* ThisIsADrill
* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: Half of Peavy's lines would have her say Bitch.
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Fear's is rice crackers, Konoha's is meat.
%%* {{Troll}}: Kuroe
* {{Tsundere}}:
** Fear, since everyone who got close to her up to this point has gone mad and died. It's only natural she'd instinctively push away anyone who gets too close.
** Peavey accuses Konoha of being one, but if she is she's Type B and even that is debatable.
** [[spoiler:Chihaya, she's between this and JerkAss]]
%%* UnstoppableRage: Fear, in episodes 2 and 3. It ain't pretty.
* VillainousBreakdown:
** Peavey in episode 5. You ''might'' actually feel sorry for her.
** [[spoiler: In volume 4, a glorious one is given to Alice Bivirio of the Bivirio family, after Fear destroys her Wathe, Abyss. Not only did she lose the thing that saved her from the abuse she suffered in her childhood, but its curse was suppressing her sense of guilt. After Abyss was destroyed, every immoral thing she did after Abyss saved her [[HeelRealization comes back to haunt her all at once]] that it nearly destroys her mind.]]
* VillainBall:[[spoiler:Taciturn Chatterbox, lead auxiliary, that directly serves the Dominion Lord gets hit with this hard! She was hyped up to be a perfectionist and CrazyPrepared type character. She was able to use a hypnosis microphone cursed tool to it's full capabilities, to completely subjugate the students and faculty in the school, taking them as hostages without them noticing, while also making sure the parents wouldn't be so concerned that they make a sudden visit within the next 24 hours. Also, she's hidden herself away from the school grounds, meaning for a time the heroes don't even know where she is. Even though she's human, you expect her to give Haruaki and the others a hard time just through preparations and trickery, but no, when they encounter her, she suddenly becomes stupid. Taciturn didn't set up any traps where she was hiding; the heroes are able to just walk to the room where she is unhindered. She doesn't use the hostages she specifically took just for this '''''exact kind of situation''''' as leverage. She even goes out her way to break the silencer and microphone transmitting sounds to the P.A. system, so she can use it directly on them, when that makes no sense! She knows who's in their group and what powers or wathes they have, but when she makes her escape and Kirika blocks her path, she's surprised when Kirika turns out to have crushed her own ear drums to avoid hearing hypnotic suggestions, when that's something completely within possibilities with the one wearing Grimastore's Love. Kirika then incapacitates Chatterbox and takes the cursed tool easily.]]
* VillainDecay: Subverted with the Knights Dominion. Peavey set the [[MoodWhiplash tone of the series]] upon her introduction. She was a powerful opponent that drove Fear to unleash her SuperPoweredEvilSide, and even after losing one arm was still formidable. Throughout the most of the volumes, The Knight's Dominion disappear for most of the story, only appearing again in certain instances. During those times, they either don't have much impact in the end, or used to make the another villain look more formidable. [[spoiler:This changes in volume 15 when another knight Sleif appears, and she goes around town attacking people in preparation for some grand plan with a cursed tool. Fear and the others can't do much as lay a finger on her. It took the Draconian's number one to beat her in a CurbStompBattle. However, she completes her mission before being defeated, and at the end of the volume, the Dominion Lord appears at the school. In the next volume, a '''''legion''''' of knights are occupying the school. They have taken all the students and faculty hostage, and turned the school into a fortress. All part of their plan to build a Dominion base in Japan and make the town's land their own through the mentioned cursed tool that not only will power them up but also will overwrite the proprieties of the sacred ground under the Yachi home that helps lift curses being in it's area of effect. Also Sleif, who they have not been able beat; the lead Auxillery Taciturn Chatterbox; and the Dominion Lord himself are their opponents.]]
* VoluntaryShapeshifter: Cursed items like Fear and Kohoha can switch between their human and item forms at will.
* VomitDiscretionShot: Peavey twice, once in episode 4 because of her dislike of cursed tools, even the one she has to now wield, and the second in episode 5 when Fear gives her a ShutUpHannibal.
* WasItAllALie: [[spoiler:In volume six, the new character, Satsuko gets asked this, after TheReveal that the entire incident was planned by her. She says while the Knight's Dominion being after her, the Wathe that was seeked out, and her background of being a student was all a lie, her wanting to deepen relations with everyone was genuine. That was the entire point behind the incident. [[ManipulativeBastard Satsu]][[AxCrazy ko]] wanted to test her mental strength by making friends with Fear and the others, and later resolve herself to fight them seriously.]]
* WiseBeyondTheirYears: Haruaki is stated to be this, and he definitely acts more cool-headed than most shounen protagonists. This is more due to his habits that are more cultural than modern. His classmates note that instead of following up on what's new, he prefers to sit at home drinking tea by the veranda. It's why he has the nickname of "Old man" by his peers.
* WhatTheHellHero:[[spoiler:When Dainsleif tells Kirika the purpose behind her attacks, Kirika is overcome with shock that she immediately begs Dainsleif to kill her, because she absolutely doesn't want be a part of it. Dainsleif quickly calls her out because killing her for real means the knight has to attack innocent bystanders again, something she no longer had to do because of Kirika's immortality.]]
* WhamEpisode:
** [[spoiler:Volume 12. The whole volume shows glimpses of the second strongest Draconian making preparations to use a cursed tool that reverts a person to a previous state. At the end, the target was revealed to be Konoha in order to reawaken her as the Demon Blade Murasame. Also, Konoha just witnessed Kirika making a confession to Haruaki, making her vunerable. The volume ends with the Draconian succeeding and Konoha now as Muramasa leaving together with her.]]
** [[spoiler:Volume 15. A new knight, Sleif appears making preparations for something big, and finishes before she's defeated by the Draconian Commander. Everyone considers they've done all they could do, and wraps up the incident, even though the all important spear that was key to the Dominion's plan is still missing. Next morning, Fear and co. receive a call from the Draconian commander who they were in alliance with during the incident informing them that he found the spear. They ask a favor of the superintendent to take them to Dragon Island, the Draconian's massive-sized ship. However, the commander lied in order to bring them there, because he wants Kuroe after witnessing her abilities in the fight against Sleif to add to his power. He's willing to fight them all to obtain her. Also, at this time, only one of Fear's mechanisms is still available making her extremely lacking in power. The Commander [[CurbStompBattle beats the crap out of the group]], and is just about to kill Harauki. Seeing this, Fear relies on her SuperPoweredEvilSide to face the Commander on equal terms, and loses consciousness. Next time she wakes up the Draconian ship has been split down the middle and sinking, and they all managed to escape on the superintendent's boat. However, everyone is looking at her with fearful gazes, except Konoha who's exerting killing intent at her, while holding Haruaki who's unconscious. Fear realizes in her rampage she harmed Harauki, and cries. Next morning, a helicopter lands on the sports ground of the school. Exiting, a '''''legion''''' of knights come out, along with the Dominion Lord himself. Their purpose: to make a Knight's Dominion base in Japan.]]
* WhamLine:
** [[spoiler:Zenon, the superintendent's assistant, gives one in volume 8:]]
--->[[spoiler:'''Zenon''': "We (her and her sister) are members of the Draconians."]]
** [[spoiler:The Dominion Lord has his fair share of shockers in volume 16:]]
--->[[spoiler:'''Dominion Lord''': "It has been a long time, Fear-in-Cube. ''My Daughter of sin''."]]
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: [[spoiler:Moreso than merely implied. FridgeLogic from the apparent looks of Kirika's body armor with the inability to remove it, says it doubles as a chastity apparel -- unless partial removal is allowed. It can be partially removed.]]
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Fear freaks out at the sight of spiders.
* WordSaladTitle: The word "Curious" in particular seems like it might have just been thrown in to round things off, but it still fits: Fear is a Cube that is Cursed, and she is Curious about normal human life. This becomes more evident as the show goes on.
* {{Yandere}}: Konoha is a mild form of this - meek until Harukai is threatened, then watch out!
* YearsTooEarly: Fear notes that she's hundreds of years more experienced than Peavey. [[Really700YearsOld She really means it]].
* YouRemindMeOfX: Fear reminds Konoha of herself. In episode 10 it's revealed that [[spoiler: Konoha Muramasa has a split personality identical to Fear's]]
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